U Rousse - Unibroue

bignick

Massachusetts

2.73/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

This is not a particularly good beer. I had it on tap at my hotel in Montreal. It poured sort of a copper color, with little head retention. The taste is not very strong. It is a littbe but sweet with a slight malty taste pushing through. It is not unlike Killian's or a beer like that, with little taste, but not an offensive taste either. It's best attribute is that is a thirst-quencher.

Serving type: on-tap

09-10-2004 21:13:38 | More by bignick

francisweizen

Australia

4/5  rDev +37.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled on tap at Oncle Antoines, perhaps the coolest bar in Quebec City, QC. The bar is located in an old 18th century brick cellar dungean and is basically hidden on a little side street in the Le Petit Champlain district of QC. It is a very un-touristy place with plenty of french locals hanging out to have a great brew from Unibroue or one of their other featured breweries. This beer was presented in a nice Unibroue glass. It was a very attractive dark red colour with a small white head. The aromas were heavily malty, a bit hoppy, and very nice. The taste was more of the same. Very clean, refined, refreshing and easy-drinking. Even Unibroues 'dumbed-down beers for the masses' are exceptional products which is saying a lot. The mouthfeel was perfect and the drinkability was great as well.
A great rousse beer on tap if there ever was one!
Cheers!
-F

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2003 14:29:59 | More by francisweizen

Haydn-Juby

Quebec (Canada)

3.36/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Served from a 341ml bottle.

A: Dark copper red color. Head died down at about the speed of any macro beer and left no real lacing.

S: A little bit of caramel malts. There's an off kind of "funk" in the smell as well.

T: Very slight caramel malts. The taste is pretty watery though to be honest. Hops are not evident and the beer takes on a pretty sweet flavor.

M: Very thin body but finishes crisp enough I suppose. Dry finish which I do like in a session beer.

O: A pretty bland beer but better than most of your average macros. Can't even begin to hold a candle to some of Unibroues other beers but its acceptable. It would be a great beer for a session drinker but not something I'd like to sit down and enjoy one or two of. Better than most Macros but that's really not saying much.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 01:29:02 | More by Haydn-Juby

DarkerTheBetter

Pennsylvania

2.85/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to jmalex for the opportunity to try something from a different market.

This one pours a brownish-amber and its head falls to a few bubbles in no time. The color has a suspicious fruity quality to it. (btw, this is exactly how my review for Miel began, which has me a bit suspicious).

The interwebs tell me “rousse” is French for “red” of “bitter.” It reminds a bit of something cheap and red like Killian’s. . There’s a dry, musky bread with a faint apple juice behind it. But overall, there’s a sour grain that suggests low quality.

This one too tastes of cheap, sour grains with a touch of toast. A dry ho nestles on this one too, but it only seems to amplify the pungent, sour grain. It reminds me of a smoker who tries chewing gum, which doesn’t hide the smell at all, but instead accents it.

Feels a little too thick and it coats my mouth a bit. Carbonation seems pleasant enough

Not impressed. I would avoid it. That is, unless, you’re looking to drink something on the cheap.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2012 23:36:10 | More by DarkerTheBetter

NV9

Ontario (Canada)

2.18/5  rDev -25.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Picked this up in a mix pack in Quebec because it was CHEAP and because of Unibroue's reputation.

Pours a dark red colour, half inch foam that dissipates quickly.

Smell dominated by caramel, but there is also some corn in there and a metallic smell buried as well.

Taste was bitter, some fruit taste and bready hops, left an unpleasant aftertaste and medium carbonation.

Overall, not a beer I'd go back to, in fact I prefer the Keith/Rickard's Reds to this beer.

The label looks cool though.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 00:38:57 | More by NV9

SebD

Ontario (Canada)

2.93/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: It has a nice red/brown amber colour. It has a nice white head but dies down quite fast.

Smell: The aromas give you hints of caramel malts and a some fruity notes.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has a caramel taste to it with a bit of apples. Finishes with hops and a certain bitterness.

Mouthfeel: It's a medium carbonated beer that ends with more of a bitter/dry taste.

Drinkability: It's a lighter tasting lager with not much flavours present. Good for a summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2011 04:54:52 | More by SebD

Otterburn

Quebec (Canada)

3/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

from my mixpack along with honey and blond U

Color is rousse, wich mean reddish brown amber or something

Smell is a bit of caramel,bread

Taste a bit like the smell, a bit stonger, something not quite right I found.

Mouthfeel is ok

Drinkability. is alright, a bit more tasty than the other U family, but not me favorite, theres a small odd strange, like corporate

still not bad, for a party if you think you,ll drink a couple, good quality for the price.
about a dollor a bottle!

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2010 06:08:30 | More by Otterburn

seand

California

2.83/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a reddish amber, with a bit of white head. Not much lacing or retention.

S: Caramel, slightly metallic.

T: Doesn't taste like much really, slightly bitter.

M: Light, fairly carbonated, somewhat dry.

D: Drinks easily enough, as you might expect of a beer with little flavor.

It's kind of like a higher end macro. Ok, disappointing given the brewery.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2009 01:39:08 | More by seand

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

2.58/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Not available in Alberta, thought I'd try it while I had a chance in la Belle Province...

This beer pours a clear golden copper hue, with a tiny bit of thin white head, that disappears in a flash, leaving no lace to speak of. It smells of lightly skunky roasted caramel malt. The taste light roasted malt, some acrid adjunct tinge, and herbal, skunky hops. The carbonation is quite high, the body light but a bit oily, and it finishes off-dry, with some strained veggie essence doing the dingleberry thing...

What we have here folks, is a more fizzy version of good ol' Rickard's Red. Why the good folks at Unibroue felt they needed to go down this road, can only be explained by marketing pie charts and the like. A pity.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2009 00:13:14 | More by biboergosum

Dangerous

Connecticut

3.28/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

My father-in-law picked up a six pack of this brew on a recent trip Quebec. I read the reviews of this beer and I am surprised it got such low marks. It's certainly not the best ale I have ever tasted, but In this reviewer's opinion it is in the "C" range. Like other reviewers, I did not like the screwcap. As for the taste, I won't waste your time with a begnign list of responses from the palate. I conclude by stating the follwing: "If given the choice between a Bud or U Rousse...I'll go for the U Rousse.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2008 22:54:09 | More by Dangerous

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

2.38/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

341ml industry bottle from Quebec.

A bulk of beige tinted white head rises quickly from the pour. It settles to a mere sheet, leaving drapes of lacing just above the thick outside trims. Clarity. An amber coloured body with chestnut and almond highlighting. A little glow to it - rather attractive.

The smell has the unfortunate odor of corn adjuncts buried deep alongside the notes of brown malts and light roast. It smells of a lager that has been ever lightly roasted. There is a metallic (copper / steel) scent that I can't seem to ignore - rather off-putting.

The mouthfeel I'll sit on the fence with. One the one hand it has a little more body and a little more texture than the other "U" line of beers (aka - most/any macro lagers); but on the other hand, it quickly dries out, leaving the palate arid. Carbonation is artificial, soda like. The texture is cloying and drinks like a macro lager - the syrupy adjuncts present and cloying on every sip.

The corn adjunct really distracts from what could be a decent flavour profile too. Ever so faintly can chocolate, roast, and caramel amber malts be tasted. Large part though - this is far more bloating than it is tasteful.

I appreciated this present from Quebec - it is in no way revolting but simply not something I'd recommend. It's weird to find such a poor offering from a brewery that was once known only for some of the world's greatest Belgian renditions.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2007 00:07:26 | More by biegaman

ThatWineGuy

Ontario (Canada)

2.48/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Thanks to Milady for lugging home a 12 pack of these from a grocery store in Gatineau, it was a long way on the train. This Unibroue product is dedicated to the gargoyles of Notre Dame de Paris, Old Montreal and Old Quebec and features a gargoyle on its label. I'm not sure how adept gargoyles are at making beer, or if they even appreciate one, so I'm curious to see how this measures.up.

Poured a russet hue, later resembled an ice tea colour. Modest head quickly flattened out with a good ring, active carbonation, some lacing. Aroma not very pronounced but feint hints of cranberry or dried fruit were detected. Taste is bitter, fruit zest but mild at that; effervescent mouthfeel with a touch of spritz and the odd flash of sour. Not a lot of body - a bit thin - finish was grainy with a malt aftertaste.

This beer, while certainly not offfensive, lacks a real well defined character; its a bit of this and a bit of that, and I think that's the problem with it. It's worth a try but doesn't go down as a particularly memorable beer in any event.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2007 06:55:42 | More by ThatWineGuy

thaichile

New Jersey

2.73/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a deep red with almost no head or carbonation. Nose is very fruity mixed with that beery scent. Flavor is sweetened fruit, very lightly hopped. Overall the this is pretty thin and watery. Overall, a disappointment from Unibroue. Thanks to dherling for the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2007 11:10:18 | More by thaichile

crwills

Ontario (Canada)

2.48/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bleh. The only redeeming quality of this beer and its lighter cousin 'U' is the cool emblazoned Unibroue logo on the bottle. And this is completely undone by the clear bottle -- why would they do this?

Anyway... poured a standard 'beer colour' into a pint glass. Normal head, nothing fancy, but fine.

Smell -- yuck. Skunky, and even with the clear bottle, I don't think this beer had gone bad. Just an unpleasant smell. Getting past the skunk, a little bit of hops, hay, and sour apples. But still -- yuck.

Taste redeems the smell a little but. Citrus, apples, malt, hay, fairly sweet. The smell is actually misleading, as the taste is pretty average and not skunky at all. Just plug your nose if you have to drink it. Mouthfeel is thin and a bit watery, but not terrible. Lower carbonation than U, which is good.

Overall -- bleh. Yeah, you heard me, bleh. My lowest review so far.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2005 01:32:13 | More by crwills

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.13/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a crystal clear reddish brown, small white head forms, goes pretty quick. Smell is chocolate, sweet malt, honey, smells like a lager. Sweet honey, some crystal malt, a grassy skunkiness. Mouthfeel is medium-light bodied, high aggressive carbonation, another strange Unibroue, don't know why they still make the U line.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2005 23:08:14 | More by Viggo

UnionMade

Colorado

3.1/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A bottle brought back to me from Montreal by my excellent upstairs neighbors Sabrina and Joel.
The beer pours a medium amber color, perfectly clear, but really nothing out of the ordinary. A modest head forms on the pour, settling out quickly into a patchy mist, and disappearing completely about 1/3 of the way through.
The aroma is more or less hops. A bit of pils malt, grass, soapy and a bit skunky, I have no idea why they'd put this in a clear bottle. The canadian six pack carriers seem to cover the beer entirely, but beware if you get a loose bottle from a cooler.
The flavor opens with a mild dunkel/amber lager taste. Mainly pils malt, cracker-like, with a touch of caramel sweetness. Very clean. A bit of grassy flavors into the middle, carrying dorectly into a moderately hopped finish. Floral and soapy bitterness, with a mild, unappetizing skunky flavor. The finish is rather dry, leaving off with a dull crackery malt flavor, tinted with floral hops. Lightish body, with a crispy dry mouthfeel. Crackling carbonation. Somewhat thin and papery feeling.
Lose the clear bottle, and this could be a great everyday beer. Mild enough to have more than a couple, with enough flavor to keep me satisfied. Aside from the skunkiness, it was nice. Simple and easy going.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2005 00:32:28 | More by UnionMade

waughbrew

Massachusetts

2.63/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

As stated about the "U" pilsner, I have no idea why such a good brewery would put out anything in a clear glass with no date on it.

Looks like tea. Tea has no head. Smells like apple must and spiced pumpkin. Tastes like sweet hokey caramel without enough hops to pull it off. Kinda thin, weak, boring. ZZZzzz.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2005 04:46:35 | More by waughbrew

pootz

Ontario (Canada)

3.43/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This must be the big brother of "U". poured a copper-amber in my pilsner flute. Lighter carbonation...small bubbles..natural. Small off white head goes to a ring quickly. Nose is substantially caramel malts and fresh saaz hops. Mouth feel is silky, toasty caramel malts balance well with the saaz flavor. Moderate finish with slight toasted grain decernment....a pretty good rendition of a pilsner style with some nice twists...caramel toasty malts give better flavor...more wet finish...infused saaz hops give flavor and bouquet without bittering...a nice departure from the norm in the pilsner style and years ahead of the mega pils.

This is a well made uncomplex all malt dunkel lager NOT some complex Unibroue belgian clone. If you come at this beer from any other frame of reference, you devalue your objectivity....and miss out on enjoying a lot of small batch micro lagers for what they are..

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2005 02:49:57 | More by pootz

Shiloh

Ontario (Canada)

2.8/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Deep amber in colour, a little murky, thin crown, average carbonation, medium/full body and the aroma is first to the skunk and then of straw.
The taste is of the malts front to back, foremost of corn then a grainy mash mixture to end.
The sweetness stays with you far to long but I may be biased as I am (and always will be) a hop head.
Not up to the Unibroue name.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2005 23:49:32 | More by Shiloh

DrJay

Massachusetts

2.3/5  rDev -21%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Very clear golden bronze colour with some particulates in suspensioin inthe bottle. Appears highly carbonated and the coarse 2-finger head quickly drops to a thin lace. The aroma is mostly of cooked veggies/corn, but there is a malt sweetness (almost caramel) and lager hop character present. The flavour is initially sharp, due to high carbonation, but sweetness (both malt and DMS) and a weak hop bitterness quickly come forward. Hiding behind these flavours is a light hop spiciness. The finish is dry and slightly sour and bitter. Carbonation is very high and makes the texture feel rough. Light body.

Clear 341 mL bottle, no freshness date.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2004 01:47:51 | More by DrJay

Todd

Massachusetts

2.88/5  rDev -1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Bad-ass custom 341ml clear bottle with twist-off cap -- the packaging is very attractive. Pours a clear, bright, light copper / amber brew with moderate carbonation that leads to a beige foam head, which eventually settles to a wisp with no retention -- near flat.

Slight sulfur, caramel malts, tea and gentle metallic in the nose.

A light bitterness begins the experience by splashing some citric, salty and bicarbonate notes about, it drops off into a grainy mouthfeel with a very bland adjunct-like character. Metallic notes. Hints of sweetness and a faint toasty flavor towards the finish, which consists of more semi-coarse grain, drying of the palate and an overall lackluster finale that coats the palate and outstays its welcome.

I expected so much more, but I can see the market that they are trying to appeal to. That said, I would have thought that Unibroue would not try to be a Sleemans and brew a world-class lager vs. a mediocre one. Still ... it's better than most basic lagers that are being made, fairly easy to drink and somewhat quenching.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2004 19:04:11 | More by Todd

PatandDavid

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pretty average. I used my Bitburger glass with this one, pour looked like a twice dunked tea bag. Head was all in my face to start, but has wimped out and left a little bit floating on top. Aroma...trying to figure it out...smells like dried sweet malt with some ball bearings thrown in. Mouthfeel is medium, slightly under-carbonated (for my tastes), so there's some syrupy quality present. Taste is also a bit flat, with some bitterness covering up that sweet malt again. I did have some initial metallic notes with those first sips as well. I like lagers in general, but this one made me think: Unibroue, don't bother.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2004 00:38:55 | More by PatandDavid

Jason

Massachusetts

1.68/5  rDev -42.3%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Thanks to Todd for the sample. 341 ml clear bottle with no freshness date.

Weak soap sud lace, it dissipates for the most part. The clear tawny color shows lots of bubbles rising to the top.

Little to the aroma, faint caramel malt and that is it.

Feigning a viscous crispness, odd dextrins and a lingering metallic taste from start to finish. Carbonic and harsh with the grain. This beer was hard to finish and if this beer is axed I will not miss it at all.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2004 23:50:33 | More by Jason

ADR

Pennsylvania

2.9/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Strange appearance overall, kind of a chill hazed iced tea color. Very nice head, 1/2 an inch on a medium hard pour. Good lace. Like U, a nutty aroma, slightly more pronounced and walnut-like with toasted oat tones. The flavor is very similar to U as well, malt-accented with slightly more caramel and butteriness than straight brown sugar. Hopping is minimal, white pepper in nuances. Since this beer is largely a repeat of U in many respects, it doesn't really rate as high in my book. Both are easy drinkers. Thanks to PatandDavid for this beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2004 13:40:10 | More by ADR

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.33/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle – Poured a light amber colored beer with a nice standard head with standard retention. Aroma is sweet with some nice malt easily detectable. Taste is very sweet, light and quite refreshing. This is not your usual Belgian Ale from Unibroue but more of a summer beer to drink on the patio.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2004 14:59:37 | More by Phyl21ca